Off Road Flat Bed Trailer for ATV/UTV?

Hotwheels · Jul 29, 2008

I am trying to find a flatbed trailer platform that I can use to mount a water tank (~60-100 gallons depending), pump, and hose reel. I plan to pull this behind a Kubota RTV on a fire break road around my property. It is a rough "road" that I will smooth out over time, but for now it is rough and rocky and there are some good slopes to deal with.

In looking for this flatbed platform, I found some references to "walking axles" or I assume these are like an independent suspension where one wheel goes over a rough spot and the other stays on track. Northern Tool sells some trailers like this. This type of "walking axle" would seem to have an advantage when going off road and over rough terrain, especially with a water tank on board. Is this a good working assumption?

Anyway, I would like to find a platform with that type of suspension that is something like this countryatv trailer ATV Flatbed-Tilt Trailer

Any suggestions about where to look for this type of flatbed platform with the "walking axle" or is there another term for that type of setup?

Thanks

aczlan · Jul 29, 2008

the trailer talked about here: Mountain Goat Trailer is a walking beam trailer, the one you posted is a conventional solid axle trailer.

Aaron Z

Hotwheels · Jul 29, 2008

aczlan said:
the trailer talked about here: Mountain Goat Trailer is a walking beam trailer, the one you posted is a conventional solid axle trailer.

Aaron Z

Thanks, that is very helpful. The link I posted is the type of trailer I would like to have with the walking beam or other type of suspension that will help to stabilize the trailer on rough terrain.

Thanks again

davepg1 · Jul 30, 2008

You might want to try Country ATV heavy duty tandem axle ATV trailers and look at the first trailer on that page. It can be made into a flatbed easily and has a walking beam axle system.
The shipping cost to your area might be the deal-breaker.

Hotwheels · Jul 30, 2008

davepg1 said:
You might want to try Country ATV heavy duty tandem axle ATV trailers and look at the first trailer on that page. It can be made into a flatbed easily and has a walking beam axle system.
The shipping cost to your area might be the deal-breaker.

I checked and they would ship it to me for a total price of 775 -- that does not seem too bad since it does have the walking beam axle. There are some other trailers that have "torsion bar" suspension that supposedly do the same thing. I don't know a thing about axles and suspensions, so this is all greek to me, but I do know that the trailer needs to be stable on rough ground and that is what I am trying to find.
Thanks

soarkrebel1 · Jul 30, 2008

Here's a link to one I built....

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa140/soarkrebel/100_2069.jpg

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa140/soarkrebel/100_2050.jpg

I guess I could have left it like this for hauling a small water tank.

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa140/soarkrebel/100_2035.jpg

Fun project if your looking for a project...

davepg1 · Aug 1, 2008

The country manufacturing 7500ATV model works well for stablity as the axles move independently both front to back and side to side. I use mine on logging roads and the wheels "walk" over heavy roots and rocks. The load bed could be a little wider to suit me, but the 7 ft length makes up for that.

gregkabob · Aug 1, 2008

I have one of the country manufacturings trailers and really like it. Works very well.

Willl · Aug 1, 2008

Have you thought of a 'sprayer tank trailer' set up ?
You can buy them all premade up ready to go.

Hotwheels · Aug 1, 2008

davepg1 said:
The country manufacturing 7500ATV model works well for stablity as the axles move independently both front to back and side to side. I use mine on logging roads and the wheels "walk" over heavy roots and rocks. The load bed could be a little wider to suit me, but the 7 ft length makes up for that.

The country 7500 seems like a good option and it costs substantially less than the Mountain Goat (with their current sale), but I think it has about the same suspension and functionality as the Mountain Goat. Is that a correct?

I did try to find a dedicated 12v sprayer setup that would put out enough GMP to work as both a fire retardant sprayer and a general purpose roundup sprayer. When I tried to combine both, then either the electric pump was ok for roundup but not really enough for the fire retardant. There are other options for gas powered pumps, but I already have a decent pump and so I think getting a tank, trailer, and hose reel and having a dedicated water/fire trailer is the most cost effective solution. I get can another dedicated roundup sprayer that is reasonably priced from a variety of sources.